PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior
Danny Gutzwiller netted a hat trick as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's soccer team (8-5-5) put together a dominant effort in the opening round of the WIAC Tournament, blanking UW-River Falls (3-10-4) and winning 6-0 on Tuesday night inside Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
Gutzwiller got the scoring started in the third minute after receiving a cross from sophomore
Westley Hankes and placing a header into the left side of the net. Senior
Ethan Dietrich added to the early lead in the ninth minute, as his free kick shot from just outside the box resulted in his sixth goal of the season.
Gutzwiller would score the Pioneers next two goals of the half to complete his first career hat trick in less than 28 minutes. His 18th minute score was off a deflected shot attempt, where Gutzwiller blasted a try that was too fast for the Falcons keeper to handle. Then in the 28th minute, junior
Justin Williams found Gutzwiller with a pass and the senior fired a shot into the upper right corner of the net. The hat trick brings Gutzwiller to eight goals on the season.
Freshman
Caden Wits scored UW-Platteville's final goal of the half after out-dribbling the UW-River Falls defense and beating the keeper with a left-footed shot in the 37th minute.
The Pioneers' lead stayed at five for much of the second half until sophomore
Cooper Stengel scored in the 82nd minute, his first of the year. The Falcons looked to get on the board as the minutes ran out, but UW-Platteville's defense held strong for the shutout.
UW-Platteville outshot UW-River Falls 16-3 in the match, including 10-0 in shots on goal. Senior
Seth Aiken got the start in net for the Pioneers while playing the first 45 minutes to record the win. Freshman
Connor Waite and sophomore
Theodore Utz combined to play the second half.
The Pioneers advance to the WIAC Semifinals and will take on top-seeded UW-Eau Claire on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.
